AMD Ryzen 5 7600X vs Intel Core i5-13490F Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data shows a clear split between two distinct performance profiles. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X wins 12 of the 21 recorded comparisons, while the Intel Core i5-13490F takes 9. The margin of victory tells the more interesting story. The AMD chip dominates in several specialized workloads, while Intel's wins are often narrow or concentrated in heavily multithreaded scenarios.

The largest single win belongs to the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X in the passmark_find_prime_numbers test, where it scores 205 against Intel's 114, a 79.8% advantage. This is a massive gap and points to a fundamental difference in how the two architectures handle certain mathematical workloads. The AMD chip also shows a 16.2% lead in passmark_extended_instructions (24216 vs 20837) and a 10.8% edge in passmark_random_string_sorting (37726 vs 34042). These are not small margins; they indicate real algorithmic advantages.

In single-threaded performance, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is consistently ahead. The 3dmark_single_thread test shows 1060 versus 1002, a 5.8% lead. Passmark's single-thread tests show 4135 versus 3828, an 8% advantage. The 3dmark_2_threads result gives AMD a 3.5% edge (2028 vs 1959), and the 4-thread test widens to 6.9% (3796 vs 3552). These results suggest that the Zen 4 architecture extracts more performance per thread than Raptor Lake in these particular workloads.

However, the Intel Core i5-13490F strikes back hard in the Cinebench tests. The cinebench_r23_multicore result is a decisive 22747 versus 15236, a 33% advantage for Intel. The cinebench_r23_singlecore result is even more lopsided in relative terms: 3211 versus 1965, a 38.8% lead for Intel. This is surprising given AMD's wins in other single-thread tests. The discrepancy suggests that Cinebench's rendering workload favors Intel's architecture in ways that other benchmarks do not.

The 3dmark_max_threads test gives Intel a 9.3% win (7550 vs 6845), and the 16-thread test shows a 9% advantage (7556 vs 6879). The 8-thread test is nearly a tie, with Intel ahead by just 0.3% (5731 vs 5715). In passmark_floating_point_math, Intel leads by 15.3% (60273 vs 51025). Passmark_data_compression also goes to Intel, but by a slim 3.2% margin (328397 vs 317862).

The AMD chip's wins in passmark_multithread (28390 vs 26569, a 6.9% lead) and passmark_integer_math (84749 vs 83723, a 1.2% edge) show that it is not simply a single-thread specialist. The passmark_physics test goes to Intel by 4.8% (1915 vs 1824), while passmark_data_encryption favors AMD by 3.6% (18543 vs 17902).

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Raphael, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It packs 6 cores and 12 threads. The Intel Core i5-13490F uses Raptor Lake, built on Intel's 10 nm process, and offers 10 cores and 16 threads. This core count difference explains many of the multithreaded results: Intel simply has more physical cores to throw at parallel workloads.

Cache hierarchies also differ substantially. The AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. Intel responds with 80 KB of L1 per core, 1.25 MB of L2 per core, and 24 MB of shared L3. The larger per-core caches on Intel help in workloads that repeatedly access the same data, while AMD's larger shared L3 pool benefits workloads that need a big common working set.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X has a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. Intel's base clock is much lower at 2.50 GHz, but boosts to 4.80 GHz. The higher boost clock on AMD explains its frequent wins in low-thread-count tests. The lower base clock on Intel is a consequence of its hybrid core arrangement and power management strategy.

Power and thermal envelopes differ significantly. AMD lists a TDP of 105 watts, while Intel lists just 65 watts. This is a notable gap, but the measured performance does not always follow the power ranking. Intel achieves its multicore wins while drawing less power, which suggests a highly efficient implementation for heavily threaded workloads.

Memory support marks another major divergence. The AMD chip supports DDR5 only, with dual-channel memory and a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. Intel supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, but the database does not record a bandwidth figure for Intel. This makes AMD's memory bandwidth a concrete advantage on paper, though the benchmark results do not always reflect it.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X includes integrated Radeon Graphics, while Intel's Core i5-13490F has no integrated graphics at all. This means the Intel chip requires a discrete GPU for any display output, while AMD offers a fallback option. PCIe support also differs: AMD provides Gen 5 with 24 lanes (CPU only), Intel provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). The AMD chip also supports ECC memory, which Intel does not.

Where Each One Wins

The data paints a clear picture for single-threaded and lightly threaded workloads. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X wins the 2-thread, 4-thread, and single-thread tests across multiple benchmark suites. Its 8% lead in passmark_single_thread and 5.8% lead in 3dmark_single_thread make it the stronger choice for applications that rely on high clock speeds and fast single-core execution. The 79.8% advantage in prime number finding and 16.2% lead in extended instructions further suggest that AMD's core design excels at specific computational patterns.

For heavily multithreaded rendering workloads, the Intel Core i5-13490F is the clear winner. The 33% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore and 9.3% lead in 3dmark_max_threads show that Intel's 10 cores and 16 threads overwhelm AMD's 6 cores and 12 threads when the workload scales well. The 15.3% lead in floating-point math reinforces this pattern. Anyone running Cinebench-style rendering or similar scientific computing tasks would favor Intel based on these numbers.

The mixed results in passmark_multithread deserve attention. AMD wins that test by 6.9% despite having fewer cores. This suggests that the passmark multithread workload does not scale perfectly with core count, or that AMD's per-core efficiency compensates for its core deficit. Similarly, AMD wins passmark_integer_math by 1.2%, a nearly dead heat that again points to per-thread efficiency.

Data compression and encryption split the field. Intel wins compression by 3.2%, AMD wins encryption by 3.6%. Physics simulation goes to Intel by 4.8%. Random string sorting goes to AMD by 10.8%. These are all specialized workloads, and each architecture has its own strengths and weaknesses in handling them.

The Verdict

The benchmark data shows two capable desktop processors with distinct identities. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is the stronger performer in single-threaded and lightly threaded tasks, with a 5.8% to 8% edge in those tests. It also wins several specialized math and sorting workloads by wide margins, including the 79.8% blowout in prime number finding. For users who prioritize responsiveness in everyday tasks, coding, or applications that rely heavily on a few fast cores, the AMD chip has the edge.

The Intel Core i5-13490F is the better choice for rendering and other heavily parallel workloads. Its 33% lead in Cinebench R23 multicore is decisive, and its 9.3% lead in 3dmark_max_threads confirms that it scales better with high thread counts. The lower TDP of 65 watts versus AMD's 105 watts makes it an attractive option for systems where power draw matters. Users who regularly render videos, run complex simulations, or compile large codebases would see tangible benefits from Intel's extra cores.

Neither chip is a universal winner. The AMD chip wins 12 benchmarks, Intel wins 9. The margins tell the story: AMD's wins are often large in specialized tests, while Intel's wins are concentrated in the heavily threaded rendering workloads. The choice depends entirely on the primary use case. For mixed workloads, the AMD chip's single-thread dominance and 6.9% passmark_multithread win suggest it handles general-purpose multitasking well. For pure rendering throughput, Intel's 10 cores are hard to beat.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Ryzen 5 7600X | Intel Core i5-13490F |

|----------------|-------------------|----------------------|

| Cores | 6 | 10 |

| Threads | 12 | 16 |

| Base Clock | 4.70 GHz | 2.50 GHz |

| Boost Clock | 5.30 GHz | 4.80 GHz |

| TDP | 105 W | 65 W |

| Socket | AMD Socket AM5 | Intel Socket 1700 |

| Architecture | Zen 4 | Raptor Lake |

| Codename | Raphael | Raptor Lake-S |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 10 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Intel |

| Die Size | 71 mm² | 215 mm² |

| Transistors | 6,570 million | Not recorded |

| L1 Cache | 64 KB (per core) | 80 KB (per core) |

| L2 Cache | 1 MB (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core) |

| L3 Cache | 32 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory Support | DDR5 | DDR4, DDR5 |

| Memory Bandwidth | 83.2 GB/s | Not recorded |

| ECC Memory | Yes | No |

| PCIe | Gen 5, 24 Lanes (CPU only) | Gen 5, 16 Lanes (CPU only) |

| Integrated Graphics | Radeon Graphics | None |

| Multiplier Unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $299 | $235 |

| Release Date | 2022-09-26 | 2023-02-09 |

| Part Number | 100-000000593 | SRMC0 |

FAQ

Q: Which processor is faster in single-threaded workloads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X wins the single-thread tests across all recorded benchmarks. It leads by 5.8% in 3dmark_single_thread (1060 vs 1002) and by 8% in passmark_single_thread (4135 vs 3828).

Q: Which processor has more cores?

A: The Intel Core i5-13490F has 10 cores and 16 threads. The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X has 6 cores and 12 threads.

Q: Does the AMD chip support ECC memory?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X supports ECC memory. The Intel Core i5-13490F does not.

Q: Which processor wins in Cinebench R23 multicore?

A: The Intel Core i5-13490F wins decisively with a score of 22747 versus 15236 for AMD, a 33% advantage.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X has a TDP of 105 watts. The Intel Core i5-13490F has a TDP of 65 watts.

Q: Which processor has integrated graphics?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X includes Radeon Graphics. The Intel Core i5-13490F has no integrated graphics.